TATT. Yes, I vow and swear I have; Lord, madam, I’m the most unfortunate man in the world, and the most cruelly used by the ladies. ANG. Nay, now you’re ungrateful. TATT. No, I hope not, ’tis as much ingratitude to own some favours as to conceal others. VAL. There, now it’s out. ANG. I don’t understand you now. I thought you had never asked anything but what a lady might modestly grant, and you confess. SCAN. So faith, your business is done here; now you may go brag somewhere else. TATT. Brag! O heavens! Why, did I name anybody? ANG. No; I suppose that is not in your power; but you would if you could, no doubt on’t. TATT. Not in my power, madam! What, does your ladyship mean that I have no woman’s reputation in my power? SCAN. ’Oons, why, you won’t own it, will you? [_Aside_.] TATT. Faith, madam, you’re in the right; no more I have, as I hope to be saved; I never had it in my power to say anything to a lady’s prejudice in my life. For as I was telling you, madam, I have been the most unsuccessful creature living, in things of that nature; and never had the good fortune to be trusted once with a lady’s secret, not once. ANG. No? VAL. Not once, I dare answer for him. SCAN. And I’ll answer for him; for I’m sure if he had, he would have told me; I find, madam, you don’t know Mr. Tattle. TATT. No indeed, madam, you don’t know me at all, I find. For sure my intimate friends would have known— ANG. Then it seems you would have told, if you had been trusted. TATT. O pox, Scandal, that was too far put. Never have told particulars, madam. Perhaps I might have talked as of a third person; or have introduced an amour of my own, in conversation, by way of novel; but never have explained particulars. ANG. But whence comes the reputation of Mr. Tattle’s secrecy, if he was never trusted? SCAN. Why, thence it arises—the thing is proverbially spoken; but may be applied to him—as if we should say in general terms, he only is secret who never was trusted; a satirical proverb upon our sex. There’s another upon yours—as she is chaste, who was never asked the question. That’s all. VAL. A couple of very civil proverbs, truly. ’Tis hard to tell whether the lady or Mr. Tattle be the more obliged to you. For you found her virtue upon the backwardness of the men; and his secrecy upon the mistrust of the women. TATT. Gad, it’s very true, madam, I think we are obliged to acquit ourselves. And for my part—but your ladyship is to speak first. ANG. Am I? Well, I freely confess I have resisted a great deal of temptation. TATT. And i’Gad, I have given some temptation that has not been resisted. VAL. Good. ANG. I cite Valentine here, to declare to the court, how fruitless he has found his endeavours, and to confess all his solicitations and my denials. VAL. I am ready to plead not guilty for you; and guilty for myself. SCAN. So, why this is fair, here’s demonstration with a witness.